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Every four years… this World Cup takes place between the 14th June & 15th July.
The 32 countries that qualified for the 2018 World Cup have been drawn into 8 groups of 4 teams.
Each team played the other 3 teams in their group once (3 Group Stage games in total), and the top 2 teams from each of the 8 groups qualified to go through to the ‘Last 16’ Knockout Stage…
FIFA’s official World Cup page (and social media links) - Website : Twitter : Facebook : Youtube : Instagram
A Wikipedia page for the 2018 World Cup - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup
23-Man Playing Squads - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_squads
A guide to all 736 players - https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2018/jun/05/world-cup-2018-complete-guide-players-ratings-goals-caps
Venues - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup#Venues
Useful ‘fixtures, live scores, results, standings & info’ sites - FlashScores : LiveScore : BBC : ESPN : FoxSports
TV stations around the world covering the World Cup matches live : Wikipedia Link & LiveSoccer Link
UK TV Coverage - http://www.live-footballontv.com/live-world-cup-football-on-tv.html (BBC & ITV)
US TV Coverage - https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup (Fox) : Telemundo - link)
Fixtures & Results (UK dates & times):-
Thursday, 14 June
Russia 5 - 0 Saudi Arabia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDY1N-IJOA8 - 2 minute FIFA highlights
Friday, 15 June
Egypt 0 - 1 Uruguay : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPzZa-Btx6I - 2 minute FIFA highlights
Morocco 0 - 1 Iran : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG6hK0eZ_Ys - "
Portugal 3 - 3 Spain : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rp2aLQl7vg - "
Saturday, 16 June
France 2 - 1 Australia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4_SXeQdIJo - "
Argentina 1 - 1 Iceland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvarnwv6hRk - "
Denmark 1 - 0 Peru : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4odLCih0Os - "
Croatia 2 - 0 Nigeria : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS-V5h0wKr8 - "
Sunday, 17 June
Costa Rica 0 - 1 Serbia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA6_7wFvG0E - "
Germany 0 - 1 Mexico : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BSeFs40QOI - "
Brazil 1 - 1 Switzerland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dWrKNrWbWQ - "
Monday, 18 June
Sweden 1 - 0 South Korea : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZlE-hUl5UU - "
Belgium 3 - 0 Panama : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCr1xpwEuZQ - "
Tunisia 1 - 2 England : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3wfrhjoIJg - "
Tuesday, 19 June
Colombia 1 - 2 Japan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4SeAfCg7-o - "
Poland 1 - 2 Senegal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXkg_12ukOk - "
Russia 3 - 1 Egypt : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AygUlfmQgBs - "
Wednesday, 20 June
Portugal 1 - 0 Morocco : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEtVNlzYAqQ - "
Uruguay 1 - 0 Saudi Arabia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxEMQTAGYzI - "
Iran 0 - 1 Spain : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3C6DK8n0mQ - "
Thursday, 21 June
Denmark 1 - 1 Australia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24m_D5EFb-A - "
France 1 - 0 Peru : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-QIE-xaueo - "
Argentina 0 - 3 Croatia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcM5n71XmBo - "
Friday, 22 June
Brazil 2 - 0 Costa Rica : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2v_mb5Xx00 - "
Nigeria 2 - 0 Iceland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIk9avLQSds - "
Serbia 1 - 2 Switzerland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O3CbugZtTg - "
Saturday, 23 June
Belgium 5 - 2 Tunisia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKuQ8zDo0Lw - "
South Korea 1 - 2 Mexico : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOSg165xRTw - "
Germany 2 - 1 Sweden : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9a3KptfC0 - "
Sunday, 24 June
England 6 - 1 Panama : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1gw5sc2JlY - "
Japan 2 - 2 Senegal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLS1JQ7qtpI - "
Poland 0 - 3 Colombia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa974tOozEI - "
Monday, 25 June
Saudi Arabia 2 - 1 Egypt : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEzuFPeSBcA - "
Uruguay 3 - 0 Russia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_YrTEiOVGo - "
Iran 1 - 1 Portugal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlPIrEKFCeo - "
Spain 2 - 2 Morocco : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIOqidBVnO4 - "
Tuesday, 26 June
Denmark 0 - 0 France : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvFP1ITZ7To - "
Australia 0 - 2 Peru : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-txBJG-B4 - "
Nigeria 1 - 2 Argentina : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmlkAOwJ1gI - "
Croatia 2 - 1 Iceland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfy1ojdPyzA - "
Wednesday, 27 June
South Korea 2 - 0 Germany : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKjV2SQfKrw - "
Mexico 0 - 3 Sweden : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHT6V1SpmNA - "
Serbia 0 - 2 Brazil : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dusyi-4pMs - "
Switzerland 2 - 2 Costa Rica : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izvscMabH8o - "
Thursday, 28 June
Japan 1 - 0 Poland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7pVlD8Q660 - "
Colombia 1 - 0 Senegal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CRmHuN-O84 - "
Panama 1 - 2 Tunisia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc9zirKrT0Q - "
England 0 - 1 Belgium : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5F1hqWW_5w - "
The final Group Standings…
The ‘Last 16’ Knockout Stage, and beyond…
Saturday, 30 June : Last 16
France 4 - 3 Argentina : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C6oOcDFmLY - 2 minute highlights
Uruguay 2 - 1 Portugal : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auqyXFLZ_zw - "
Sunday, 1 July : Last 16
Spain 1 - 1 aet Russia (Russia win 4-3 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHPke43iqNg - "
Croatia 1 - 1 aet Denmark (Croatia win 3-2 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_iIW2DZ8nc - "
Monday, 2 July : Last 16
Brazil 2 - 0 Mexico : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYIf8I1dvdo - "
Belgium 3 - 2 Japan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJeJuc27ggE - "
Tuesday, 3 July : Last 16
Sweden 1 - 0 Switzerland : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=012FkPcI1uE - "
Colombia 1 - 1 aet England (England win 4-3 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbmaLT320hw - "
Friday, 6 July : Quarter-Finals
France 2 - 0 Uruguay : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YK4o-Gbppg - "
Brazil 1 - 2 Belgium : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8IK0ZqfxNI - "
Saturday, 7 July : Quarter-Finals
Sweden 0 - 2 England : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr7-HtVlAdI - "
Russia 2 - 2 aet Croatia (Croatia win 4-3 on pens) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjU8j2bj3RY - "
Tuesday, 10 July : Semi-Finals
France 1 - 0 Belgium : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntQsMSuEbyg - "
Wednesday, 11 July : Semi-Finals
England 1 - 2 Croatia (after extra-time) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi_2GELMwfY - "
Saturday, 14 July : 3rd Place Play-Off
Belgium 2 - 0 England : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_5SJPKMHAA - "
Sunday, 15 July : The World Cup Final
France 4 - 2 Croatia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrsEAvRerTg - " & more reddit/footballhighlights links
France win the 2018 World Cup.
Current odds of each country winning this World Cup (according to the ‘experts’) - Bookmakers’ Odds
In Dec '17: Ger 5/1, Bra 5/1, Fra 6/1, Spa 8-1, Arg 9-1, Bel 12-1, Eng 16-1, Por 28-1, Rus 40-1, Cro 40-1, Col 40/1, Uru 40-1, Den 100-1, Swi 100-1, Swe 100-1, Mex 125-1, Ser 200-1, Ice 500-1, Aus 750-1, Pan 2000-1, Sau A. 5000-1.
A Wikipedia page on the history of World Cup competitions - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup
A Wikipedia list of previous WC winning sides - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_winners
A Youtube channel with almost every WC goal since 1966 - https://www.youtube.com/user/MrDrobisha/videos
Previous OriginalTrilogy•com World Cup threads - 2014 : 2010 : 2006
Or just sit back and enjoy the games - Summer will be here, beers in the fridge, and footy on the telly 😃
Turned out to be a cracking & enjoyable tournament…
I’ll be likely routing for Iceland - fantastic achievements in footy of late, and superb rapport / togetherness with their supporters too. They are also the smallest nation to ever make it to a World Cup Finals. You?